A very English Scandal

I really enjoyed it!

I thought it was extremely well-acted and - for someone who has only lived in the UK since 2000, so I don't know anything about the case - it is an interesting slice of recent social history, albeit that there may be some poetic license.

I like Ben Whishaw in anything and Hugh Grant's acting skills seem to be improving with age. There are many good actors in it. It is a difficult subject.

I should have known when I saw that it was written by Russell T Davies that it wouldn't be the dark, serious drama it should have been. It's far too nudge-nudge wink-wink and although Hugh Grant & Ben Wishaw are both very good, I was expecting something better. A fine turn from David Bamber as Lord Arran - a sincere man mourning his brother.

Yes, I found the scene with David Bamber very moving.

I disagree gulligranny I did not think it was in any way 'nudge nudge wink wink' as you put it. On the contrary, I thought it sinister and menacing the way that JT and his cohort were able to use, abuse and dispose of people like Norman. This was not just about sexual abuse, hidden homosexuality and cover ups, it was also about the political and ruling classes, the senior civil service, M15 etc who were able to just do what they like to the lower classes. The way that JT treated Norman was no better or worse than the way his friend 'Pedro' used and abused his secretary. They both rode rough shod over anyone they considered beneath them or of a lower social standing. Can't get much more dark and serious than that.

My brother made his TV debut in this last night as an extra

Excellent acting.

I must admit I found some of the love scenes uncomfortable viewing but that comes from my conservative (small c) up bringing.

What a terrible time gay people had keeping their love lives secret.

When I was a teenager I was into amateur acting, one of my male friends was always different in his way of dressing his duffle coat was bright red, quite unusual for the early 60s. My mother told me he was gay which had never occurred to me.

What fun NotaGran hope he was paid.

GillT57 you've put into words what I couldn't put my finger on - that the "jokey" attitude of Thorpe and his partner-in-crime is sinister, chilling.

I thought it was very good too. Hugh Grant was excellent - somehow managing to capture the "look" and sickeningly confident manner of Jeremy Thorpe.

I think the apparent "jokiness" has a real bite to it.

I haven’t watched it, mainly because I remember it all too well, I’m surprised that they managed to make it funny though. It didn’t seem very funny at the time.
I might just have to watch it....

When you think what sort of issues gay men struggled with before the homosexual reform legislation in about 67 life must have been very difficult. Even after the legislation was passed it took a long time for people to be more accepting. All the stress those gay man who were looking for partners were put through. Mind you he was a rather unpleasant man.
There was an older farmer on Country file who had eventually come out as gay and found a partner.

It’s not the sexuality but the predatory nature especially of men in positions of power.
No coincidence that they associated with the likes of paedophiles Cyril Smith and Jimmy Savile.
AIBU to think that the people who aspire to run our country should have a moral compass?

We switched it off shortly after the Vaseline appeared.

While giving evidence at Ward's trial, Rice-Davies made a famous riposte. When James Burge, the defence counsel, pointed out that Lord Astor denied an affair or having even met her, she replied, "Well (giggle) he would, wouldn’t he?"

MRD was a successful sort of person with no nonsense about her. Is social class so psychologically entrenched now as it was then? Is there a shady side to our ruling elites?

(Re the Profumo scandal, Welshwife.)

MawBroon , indeed you have reason!

In the course of a by-election campaign, I shook hands with JT and, when the trial took place, I wondered if I'd remembered to wash my hands that day.

I think it's a story very well told and acted and Hugh Grant does a good job. I found the way he almost groomed the innocent Norman quite chilling. The predatory nature of the older gay man spotting and sensing another sexual encounter was - well, a bit like prowling wolf licking his lips. There was no romancing - once the vulnerable young man arrived Thorpe was straight into Norman's bedroom with a towel and jar of Vaseline!

It's an eye-opener to a different world. I was too young to appreciate Thorpe's crimes at the time. He was very much a smooth user of people.

I in agreement with this review in the Independent. It covers everything I thought really!

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/a-very-english-scandal-bbc-one-hugh-grant-jeremy-thorpe-ben-whishaw-a8358056.html

I think Hugh Grant is very convincing in this role. I heard him say in an interview that JT reminded him of the type of men his parents would invite to dinner parties when he was a child - superficially charming, utterly selfish, with a strong sense of entitlement- they were the products of Eton and other similar boys-only schools for the wealthy and priviledged.

I think the homosexual practices they had often been subjected to and learnt in these intsitutions may well have contributed to them becoming bisexual, when they might otherwise not have been. The attitudes they seemed to have towards their sexual conquests, male or female, was pretty despicable. It was about satisfying their own sexual appetites and exercising power over the less priviledged.

These were men of their time and it could be that the illegality of sexual activity between men at that time was part of the allure. Although they may have had some redeeming qualities, they were absolutely ruthless in protecting their own interests and totally lacking in empathy towards others.

Yes, well said varian, and I think that smug superiority is portrayed extremely well in this period piece drama. I imagine that upper echelon of self-centred but superficially charming people still exists in most corridors of power and private London clubs.

the same men are still there Varian they just cover their tracks better or get Ms May to "lose" the details of their crimes .The Elite will always stick together on these matters ,after all who really cares whay happens to young men and women like Norman Scott ?

Brilliant acting and a well thought out drama and no not at all funny Bestwishes, some may interpret it that way but it is far far from funny it s heartbreaking looking at the grooming and manipulation of vulnerable people by the older richer men and unfortunately still goes on although there was in those days the edition of the sheer ignorance and fear of ‘gays’ who had no voice or ability of speaking out but this young Norman was underneath his vulnerability Determined he wasn’t going to let it go
I remember the scandal but never saw it from the young mans focus I at the time thought it was all about Jeremy Thorpe being disliked because he was gay ( I was trying to bring three children up alone during this period so probably didn’t have time to work it all out)

How does Russell Davies know what took place in private between two men ? Accepting Scott’s word or from his own personal experience

Good point,
Anniebach.

We will never know what Jeremy Thorpe would have been like had the law been different and he had been comfortable with his homosexuality. He might still have been predatory, but he might simply have found himself a nice man and settled down. He didn’t have that option if he wanted to succeed in politics.

To me, the major problem was the law before it was changed. So far, I don’t think that’s been stressed enough.

Wasn’t Chris Smith the first MP to come out ?